Engineers solve problems. No matter the type, technical, logistical, or other. So, remember John’s basics of problem solving.

• Challenge everyone’s assumptions, especially your own.
• A corollary to this would be; Consider people’s motives when they give advice or solutions. One reacts to one’s reward system
• Compare and contrast. What ‘IS’ the issue? What “IS NOT” the issue?
• Dive deep, then dive deeper (keep asking “why”)
• Perform good statistical analysis of your data but don’t over-complicate it.  A lot can be learned from Box Plots, histograms and data plotted in time order. Never assume data is normally distributed without testing the data.
• Procedures are great but don’t use them as an excuse to stop thinking
• Every once in a while, managers’ need to be challenged. Managers are not always right.
• When communicating do not “bury the lede”. Give the important points first, then go into detail.
• A good engineer knows how to get things done within the system... a great engineer knows how to get things done despite the system.

• And lastly remember that Engineering is one continuous struggle with entropy.